Stan Lockhart: State GOP Chairman

By GM Jarrard

General William Tecumseh Sherman made famous the quote: "If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve." After his march through Georgia and the Deep South, he gained political notoriety in both the North and the South. And his speech made him even more legendary. Nowadays, his dictum is often employed by more ordinary folks for more ordinary reasons:

          They’re too busy.

          Or, they make too much money for public service.

          They don’t like the heat, so they stay out of the kitchen.

          Or, even they employ scripture: “I was not called, so I was not chosen.”

          Many learned in the military never too volunteer for anything.

          And then there are people like Stan Lockhart who just can’t say no.

          Meet Stan Lockhart, the relatively new Republican State Party Chairman. He did not seek nor did he want his new job. The pay is zero, zilch, nichts, niente!

          And the party had been in turmoil for months. Folks were fired, the debt was piling up and wasn’t Stan just too busy with boards, volunteer organizations and his church work, not to mention his day job at Micron/IM Flash Technologies? He could have passed it up.

But he ran anyway in a surprisingly crowded field last June and won. So, the question is, why?

          “Some friends called and were very persuasive,” he says. Gary Herbert, the lieutenant governor and former Utah County Commissioner, was one. Senate majority leader and close friend Curt Bramble was another.

          And, then, of course, there was Edmund Burke: “Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.”

          Lockhart’s wife, Becky, was ambivalent. As a state legislator with kids still at home, she could have nixed the deal. But, she didn’t. It was her husband’s call.

          “No, the job wasn’t on my radar screen, but a lot of folks made their voices heard,” said Lockhart. “I’m not that ambitious, but when people ask for help, I usually respond; I have a soft spot to jump in and help. So I did.”

          It’s not the first time.

          In 2000, he joined the Provo City Council where he served for four years. Electioneering has been a fun family activity for years; when Stan, Becky and their three children weren’t campaigning for her legislative elections, they helped out friends like Curt Bramble.

          “Our children began to think that Halloween season included passing out literature and sticking up lawn signs; for three out of four years, trick-or-treating was followed by neighborhood politicking,” Lockhart reflected. “The kids began to think it was normal!”

          While serving on the City Council, Lockhart confirmed what he had always felt: He liked serving people and helping them out.

          “I remember a woman who was the victim of a hit-and-run accident and couldn’t get anything from the driver who hit her. The city was prosecuting him and had some leverage. We were able to get her together with the city attorney who helped her get some help from the insurance company. I also remember many cases of people with garbage or utility bills that were double-billed or just plain wrong where a little bit of assistance solved the problem. It’s always good to know that even a quick phone call can get somebody some help,” he said.

          Lockhart felt the political bug bite early in life, first in junior high and then in high school in Washington state where he discovered he had the gift of political persuasion and consensus-building. Then, right after they married, Stan and Becky Lockhart jumped into the political pot with both feet. First, it was simple things, like being elected voting district chairman or state and county delegates. And it grew from there.

          “Soon after we moved into our first house, we discovered the county had plans for a jail literally in our backyard. We worked real hard to get the word out and convince local authorities that a residential setting like ours was not a good place for a jail. Eventually, we succeeded and the jail went elsewhere. That process taught us that we really could make a difference,” he said.

          But, it wasn’t Stan who first reached for the golden ring. Friends had talked with him about an open legislative seat due to a resignation. His wife had always talked about the legislature, and they decided she was the better choice. While she did better in the caucuses, another candidate was appointed to fill out the term. But, when the election rolled around, Becky Lockhart worked hard for her votes and won. That was 1998. It was challenging because they had a toddler and two older children to care for.

          “Thanks to grandparents who stepped in and helped us out, she was able to serve. I’ve always said she is more talented than I am. Her service has brought us a lot of blessings; she has been able to develop her talents and abilities and grow, thanks to her legislative service. She is happy with her position, and when she’s happy, I’m happy,” he said.

          A year later it was Stan’s turn to step up to the plate when he ran for and was elected to the post of Utah County Republican chairman, a position that would prepare him for this current assignment.

          “The party has enjoyed great success in our county since the early to mid-90s; each election, we saw more and more success until every legislative candidate and every county candidate was Republican,” Lockhart observed. He attributes that trend to the timeless, tried-and-true family values of the Republican Party that resonate so well with the local electorate.

          Does he see the same thing for the State Republican Party?

          “I consider it an honor and a privilege to represent the Republican Party in Utah. As I’ve gone to various events since my election, the sense of what it means has been growing on me. The party is much more than a service club — it stands for something. It stands for enduring values and principles, and it is our job to communicate them, to help Utah voters understand them.”

          True, Utah is one of the reddest of the red states. But Lockhart isn’t taking anything for granted. He has an action plan he wants to execute.

          “First, we have to get organized and prepared for next year’s elections. That means the State Party has to be in a position to assist each of the various county organizations. These county parties and the candidates at each level need to have all the modern tools at their disposal to get their message out.

          “Second, we need to get our financial house in order. We need to live within our means, and we need to be more effective in raising money.

          “Third, we need to get our candidates elected, incumbents and challengers. Again, we can’t take Republican victories for granted. We have to work to help these candidates.

          “And, fourth, we need to communicate consistently what the Republican Party stands for. We need a state-wide communications strategy that resonates with Utah voters, because I believe what most Utahns value is exactly what the Republican Party stands for,” Lockhart stated.

          Lockhart also believes it is important to disagree with opponents without being disagreeable.

          “I have a great relationship with a lot of Democrats; they believe in their values as sincerely as we do. We need to have a civil dialogue. But, we must get our message out — that’s our most important task.”

          He also recognizes that Utahns are independent people — their support isn’t guaranteed.

          “We simply have to lay out our plan and tell them what we want to do. I am an optimist — I’ve truly been blessed; I believe our best times are still ahead of us, and I also recognize that there is a time and season for all things.”

          To be successful, Stan Lockhart will have to keep his Franklin planner open all the time. Because when he’s not taking care of public affairs business for Micron/IM Flash Technologies, he’s tending over the flock at his local LDS ward where he serves as bishop. Or, he’s coaching his son’s youth baseball team. He also serves as president of the Utah Boys and Girls Clubs Alliance and is on the boards of the Thanksgiving Point Institute, the Leonardo Science Museum, the Utah Taxpayers’ Association and the Utah Manufacturers’ Association, to name just a few. How does he do it all?

          It’s a real challenge, he says, but he establishes priorities and manages to excel in many areas.  If the old saying is true that if you want get something done, get a busy man to do it, then Utah Republicans can expect a lot from their new chairman.

          Lockhart recognizes that the party chairman job comes with some opposition and frequent criticism. “I officiated local basketball for years. I tried to call them as I saw them, by following the rule book. I understood that even when you make the absolute correct call, there will generally be 50 percent of the people in the stands who will disagree with you. You can’t let that get to you. You have to stick by your principles.”

Greg Jarrard is a veteran ad man, writer and publisher best known for running paid ad campaigns for Republican candidates. He is now in the publishing business, running a small-press publisher serving the natural foods industry. His recent book, "A Jack Mormon's Travel Guide," is available at Deseret Book. He resides in South Jordan where he digs weeds and claims it is a garden.